Kiara

Six years later,

I slipped through the mannequins like I wasn't even there, quiet, invisible, just trying to move fast enough to not be seen. I ducked into the side door and pushed my way toward the reception.

My feet ached already.

I sank behind the counter and breathed out like I'd just finished running a marathon no one clapped for.

The computer beeped in that annoying way it always did. I typed in my passcode like muscle memory, and just like that, the beeping stopped.

Then a man walked in from the side door.

His eyes were heavy, swollen like he hadn't slept in days.

"Is my order ready?"

His voice was sharp. I could Immediately tell that he was already irritated.

"What's your name, sir?" I asked, fingers already hovering over the keys.

We got people like him every week. The type that wandered from the first floor all the way to the third just to start a fight.

I could already tell what kind of customer he was. His whole energy screamed confrontation. But I tried-I really did-to keep my face still.

Don't judge. Don't assume. Just stay neutral. Do the job.

"Don't look at me like that," he snapped.

I blinked. "Like what?"

"You're talking back, huh?" He leaned in, close enough that I could smell his breath. His hand lifted, reaching toward my face.

I instantly slapped it away, hard.

I didn't even have the time to think it through.

I glanced toward security just in case. I wasn't scared.

If I wanted, I could rip him apart right here. Tear him into meat and not feel a damn thing.

But I couldn't afford that.

Not now.

This job was everything. My only lifeline.

So instead, we argued.

He tried to reach for me again and I told him off. My voice wasn't sweet. I didn't fake it for him.

When he finally stormed out, the tension snapped like a rubber band in my chest.

I breathed in, then out.

Then-

"Stop acting foolish at the very least!"

It was Erica. My boss.

I didn't need to turn. I already knew the voice.

I winced.

"Why would you speak to a customer like that?"

I swallowed. "You didn't even bother to ask why I did it."

"Again with the excuses!" She shouted, loud enough that my headache pulsed harder.

Unfair. She didn't even care what he did. She never cared.

"I work long hours," I muttered. "And someone comes in here-"

"You can quit then! Go find somewhere else to hide your pathetic self, huh?"

I sighed.

I clenched my hands, fingers curling into dry fists.

I couldn't say anything else.

I could've. God, I wanted to. But I didn't.

Because she was my boss. Because I had responsibilities now.

Because this wasn't a life I chose. It was one I was dragged into.

I had to survive.

I thought back. Back to that night.

The betrayal. The blood. The claws. My sister's face.

I had crawled my way out of hell with nothing but grit and silence and a hunger to stay alive.

No one knew me here. No one asked questions. I hadn't spoken to anyone from my past in six years. No Chase. No family.

Last I heard, Chase had left town.

Good for him.

I didn't care.

My boss turned with her usual exaggerated sigh. "How many times do I have to tell you-standing here means you're the face of my shop. At least try to look like it."

"I'm doing my best," I said.

"No, you're not," she said with that fake little smirk she wore like perfume. "You think I should do everything around here too? You look like you're ready to scare the clients away."

I said nothing.

Because I'd learned.

You don't fight her. You just wait. Let her talk herself out. She always did.

She'd hated me from day one, and I still hadn't figured out why. Maybe I reminded her of something. Maybe she just needed someone to hate.

"And you're not the type to be left alone," she added with a snort. "That's the problem, Kiara. You don't know the first thing about business."

"I should get back to my post," I said, my voice low, tired.

I circled around, one hand on my waist, not even sure where I was going.

Standing in one place made my knees scream.

Then the bells rang. The doorbells from the front.

I turned.

"We have a VIP," I said.

She stopped mid-rant. Her eyes snapped to the entrance, then lit up.

Money.

That look she got-it wasn't even excitement. It was hunger. Greed.

Because VIPs meant cash, cash meant prestige. And Prestige meant she could keep pretending I wasn't the reason her business was still afloat.

She wouldn't fire me. She couldn't. I was her best designer.

If there was a big name walking through that door, she'd shove me out front no matter how much she hated me.

It was just how people worked.

She practically skipped away, her heels clicking too loudly on the tile.

Her laugh echoed through the showroom.

That was definitely not just another VIP.

It had to be someone big.

I peeked out and saw her lead him toward the back. The measuring room. The private one.

She sounded... different.

Excited. Breathless. Giddy. Like a girl on a date, not a boss handling a client.

I tiptoed closer.

The door was slightly cracked. I pushed it open just enough to peek in.

His back was broad. Posture confident. He leaned slightly as he walked like the room itself didn't matter. Like nothing mattered.

Erica was practically bouncing beside him.

"You haven't been in here in three years," she said in her overly sweet voice. "I thought you abandoned my business ."

He chuckled.

Smooth.

Deep.

That sound alone made me pause.

I didn't know him.

But just from that laugh, that voice, I could imagine.

He was the type of man people didn't forget. The kind women whispered about after he left.

I shut my eyes. Just for a second. And imagined what it would be like to have someone like that as my own client, mine, not Erica's.

I loved what I did. I did. The joy of clients seeing my designs, the way they lit up when they wore something I made.

But Erica...

She stole everything.

Every piece I made, she claimed. Every compliment, she swallowed.

And I let her because I needed the job.

"I haven't been in town in five years," the man said.

Erica clutched the necklace around her neck. "I heard about the carnival. You missed it."

"Gillian made sure I didn't miss anything," he said. His hand touched the tabletop casually, like even furniture bowed to him. "But I'm back. And planning to stay."

"You're welcome anytime," she said. "You're my favorite, just so you know."

He nodded. "I like when you pretend I matter."

She laughed like it was a joke they'd shared for years.

And it probably was.

I started to turn away.

But just then, Erica saw me.

"I was just about to call you," she said, surprisingly polite. "Come in."

That rare politeness-it wouldn't last. But I took it. I savored it while it lasted and licked my lips as I walked in.

The warmth from the man's presence hit even though I had still not seen his face.

There was something about him... Something Familiar.

Familiar in a way that made my stomach clench.

I clutched the measuring tape close like it could protect me.

I'd dealt with plenty of expensive clients before.

But this man-he was different.

He didn't just wear luxury. He breathed it.

He had that air. The kind that made people listen. The kind that told you he wasn't just rich. He was dangerous. Important. Untouchable.

"Don't just stand there," Erica snapped.

Before I could move, his voice cut in.

"Let her be, Erica."

He was amused. I heard it in his tone.

Erica melted under it.

"We wouldn't want you looking bad for the reception party," she said, too breathy now. "Although I doubt you could look bad in anything."

"Well, if you're willingly allowing her to handle the measurements," he said, "then I'm not worried."

She gave me a quick glare before turning the smile back on him like nothing happened.

He beat every other client who'd ever walked through that door.

I stepped forward.

And Erica stepped back.

"I'll leave you to it then."

I moved to him, heart kicking at my ribs.

I reached to tap his shoulder.

He turned.

And I froze.

The smile dropped from his face.

His eyes sharpened.

Anger. Recognition.

And just like that- The color drained from my face.

Chase?

Chase.

She was here.

Kiara was here.

Alive.

Not dead.

Not missing.

Not even a rumor.

Right there. Standing in front of me in that black dress with her measuring tape, like the past didn't exist.

Like she hadn't shattered everything.

The second I saw her, everything slammed back into me. The room. The bed. The betrayal. The rejection. The look on her face when I said the words.

I'd tried so hard to forget.

I really thought I'd buried her.

I thought she was gone. I let myself believe it. Told myself over and over that she didn't exist anymore.

And now-

Now she was standing here like nothing ever happened.

She looked tired. Smaller than I remembered.

Yet still beautiful. God, still beautiful.

And that pissed me off more than anything.

How dare she still look like that?

How dare she still stir something in me just by standing there?

She held the measuring tape like it was the only thing keeping her steady. Her eyes glanced over my body, slow, calculating.

"Could I help you out of the jacket, sir?" she asked.

Sir.

She was pretending. Like she didn't know me. Like we were strangers.

And maybe that was the best way to play this. Maybe it was better to pretend too.

Still, the moment I opened my mouth, my voice sounded stiff. Cold and Robotic.

"You're awfully slow."

I turned to Erica before I could think better of it.

"Couldn't you find someone faster? I doubt this one even knows her job."

"Don't ruin this for me," Erica snapped at Kiara.

I almost smiled.

They hated each other. That much was clear.

If Kiara wanted to act like we were nothing, I could play that game. Hell, I could ruin her entire day if I wanted to.

She lowered her head slightly, and I couldn't read her expression. But I knew my words had landed. I knew that look-like she was swallowing something bitter.

"I'm sorry," Erica said to me. "She's good at what she does, though. I can say that for her."

I nodded, sharp and slow. "I suppose I can put up with someone like her touching me for this."

Erica gave me that tight fake smile again, the one she practiced in front of mirrors. Then she turned to shoot Kiara one last glare.

Kiara stepped out from the light and reached out, quiet, steady. She stretched her hands to take my jacket, and I let it fall from my shoulders.

I readjusted my watch.

Ran my tongue along the back of my teeth.

Her eyes were on me. Cold.

She stood tall. Shoulders squared. Stiff. Like she was pretending she hadn't just been knocked sideways.

She looked at me like she didn't remember.

Like I was just another man.

Maybe I never really knew her.

"What's your kind of style?" she asked, sliding the tape from one shoulder to the other. "Casual or...?"

I shrugged. "I should know your name though, don't you think?"

She shifted. Glanced toward the door. Swallowed before she looked back.

"Kiara, sir."

Sir. Again.

I could feel it cracking something inside me.

"This is for an important party," I said, forcing the anger back down. "Should be perfect. Maybe a tuxedo."

She nodded once. "A tux fits you."

Her voice dipped lower. "Please turn around, sir."

I turned.

Our eyes met in the mirror.

And it hit again.

Electricity.

Heat.

Fury.

Six years. I had buried this. I had hated her in silence for years. Told myself she meant nothing. But this-

Just one glance, and I could feel it again.

And I hated that.

"I... will begin the measurements now," she said.

She took my hand and stretched it forward.

Measured the arm and wrote it down.

She then stepped closer. To my chest.

So close I could hear her heartbeat and smell her skin.

I gritted my teeth as my whole body coiled.

It had been years since she'd been this close.

And it was still too much.

"Subtle doesn't look good on you," I said.

She froze. Just slightly. I felt it in her fingertips.

"I don't understand what you mean, sir."

Of course she didn't.

Of course she'd play dumb.

She bent down. Lowered the tape to my hips, to my legs.

I hated the way it felt.

Her touch.

I hated how my skin still reacted.

How my breath betrayed me.

How badly I wanted her to stay there.

I hated it all.

"You seem off balance," I said. "Afraid of going down between my thighs?"

Her head snapped up.

Her mouth twitched.

I'd gotten to her.

Good.

"I'm trying to be as professional as I can be," she snapped. "Please stop making this about you."

"I thought I was the client here."

I smirked. Her eyes narrowed.

"This is about me, right?"

She exhaled. "Stop being an ass and maybe it will be."

"Ouch."

I stepped back. Just slightly.

Then turned toward the door.

"Then I guess you wouldn't mind me telling your boss about-"

"I'm sorry," she said fast.

The tape was still in her hand.

I turned back around slowly, soaking it in.

She was still so easy to push.

"Spread your legs for me, sir," she said.

Her voice caught halfway through.

She realized it the moment it left her mouth.

I licked my lips.

And did exactly what she asked.

She knelt, fumbling with the tape.

Her hands brushed my thighs. And it slipped higher.

Her breath caught.

Mine did too.

She tried to readjust. Tried to steady herself.

But her fingers still managed to graze my crotch.

Accident or not-it didn't matter.

Her eyes widened. And she bit her lip.

I looked down at her, breathing heavy.

She swallowed.

And I-

I wanted to grab her. To pull her into me. To crush her mouth with mine. To drown in her the way I used to.

And I hated that even more than I hated her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I... I..."

"Don't tell me you don't remember," I growled.

I wasn't supposed to bring it up.

But it was bubbling too fast.

The anger.

The betrayal.

The want.

All of it clawing its way to the surface.

My parents wanted me to marry her sister.

We were engaged, but it didn't feel real.

None of it did.

Except her.

She still felt real.

Even when she was supposed to be the worst thing that ever happened to me.

She stood quickly and placed the tape on the corner table.

"I don't know what you mean, sir."

"Oh don't give me that crap," I said through gritted teeth. "You're still just as-"

The door flung open.

Erica burst in with her fake bright voice. "I hope we met your expectations!"

It was jarring. The way everything snapped back to pretend.

She looked between us and didn't even notice the tension slicing the air. She didn't care.

I slipped my jacket back on and walked over to her.

I waved a hand in Kiara's direction as I spoke, "next time I'm here, don't let her near me. Or it'll be the last time I step foot in this place."

Erica stiffened. "Did something happen?"

"Everything is wrong," I said, eyes fixed on Kiara.

Her eyes were glossy.

But I didn't care.

I wasn't supposed to care.

"I'll send my secretary to handle the rest," I muttered. "I wouldn't-"

"Mummy!"

The word hit me like a slap. I turned immediately.

A little boy came running in. He was a Young boy. Way too young.

I blinked.

Was Erica still birthing at her age-?

Is it a grandkid?

Erica spun fast. "I told you not to let your child come in here again!"

Her voice was sharp, but not quite a scream. She was holding it back. For me.

I looked at Kiara.

She knelt in front of the boy and smoothed his hair while he giggled and wriggled away.

She then stood and bowed slightly. "I'm sorry for the disturbance," she said softly. "I'll take him out."

"Stop bringing him around and you won't need to keep apologizing!" Erica snapped.

Kiara nodded again. She then took the boy's arm and led him out without a word.

"Always bringing in that child," Erica grumbled, shutting the door.

I stood there. Frozen.

She had a child?

Kiara had a freaking child?

While I'd been breaking myself apart, stuck in memories of her betrayal, she dared to move on?

She met another man and started a life?

What the actual Fuck!

Kiara.

The second Chase walked out of the shop, I could finally breathe. Relief flooded me like I'd been holding my lungs hostage.

I clutched Billy closer to my chest. My hands were still shaking. I bent down and kissed the side of his forehead. "Billy, you-"

But I didn't even get the words out, because the door opened again.

Chase.

He came back.

My heart jumped. No, it didn't jump. It actually thrashed.

Why? Why was he back? Did he figure it out? Did he suspect something? Did he see it? Did he see him?

"Mommy!" Billy called again, innocent and loud, completely unaware of how everything inside me was unraveling.

He clung to my waist, and I held him tighter. So tight I was scared I'd break him, but I didn't care. I couldn't let him go. Not now.

I looked up to see that Chase was staring at me.

And that scowl on his face, Goddess.

I was about to say something, anything, but then Erica showed up.

Of course. She always had to show up at the worst moments.

And then she started yelling. Something about bringing Billy again. Something about rules.

But I didn't hear any of it.

Not a single word.

All I could focus on was Chase.

His eyes. His expression.

Was he piecing it together? Did he notice the eyes? The nose? The energy? Did he feel it?

Would he take Billy from me? Could he? Would he fight me for him?

Erica stopped yelling eventually as her words disappeared into whatever void they came from.

Then Chase said, "Seems like you've moved on fine with your life."

The way he said it was like a knife. Not loud. Not angry. Just cold.

Like it was true. Like I'd forgotten him.

Like I'd built a new life without him and didn't care anymore.

I blinked. My mouth opened, but no sound came out. I didn't know what he meant. I didn't know what he wanted from me.

He didn't say anything else.

He just turned and walked away again.

And my knees nearly buckled.

I pulled Billy closer, tighter, like the pain of my grip would anchor me back into the present. He was the reason I was still alive.

Six years.

He was the only thing that had kept me standing all this time.

If anyone tried to take him away from me...

No.

No, I wouldn't survive that.

"Mom, are you okay?"

His voice was small. Gentle.

I looked at him and nodded fast. "Yes, baby. Mommy's fine. Mommy just... missed you a lot today."

It was a lie. But I said it anyway.

I stared into his eyes, Chase's eyes.

So much of him was there.

But Billy was mine.

Mine and no one else's.

And I would never, ever be separated from him. Not even by death.

Erica stormed out again, mouth already twisted in a frown.

She didn't need a reason to be angry.

"Did he leave already?" she snapped.

I knew who she meant.

I nodded quietly.

She narrowed her eyes at me, then let her gaze drop to Billy.

"Of course. You must've done something. You always ruin everything," she hissed. "And seriously, why bring him here again?! You and your son are always causing trouble!"

I usually let it slide.

All her insults. All her hate.

But this time? No.

Not Billy. She does not get to say that about my son.

So I opened my mouth, ready to bite but Billy beat me to it.

"Don't yell at my mommy!"

He stepped in front of me. Tiny and angry and fierce in that innocent way only kids could be.

"She didn't know I was coming! I came by myself! It's not her fault. Please don't be mad at her."

His voice cracked near the end. But he held his ground.

I froze and so did Erica.

She stared at him, rolled her eyes like the witch she was, and walked away.

Again.

Coward.

I knelt and wrapped Billy in my arms, holding him to my chest like a shield.

I took a deep breath.

Chase was gone.

And I prayed I wouldn't have to see him again.

Please, just let this be a one-time thing.

Let him stay gone.

...

That night, I was putting Billy to bed when Chavez came home.

My cousin.

The only person who'd never turned his back on me.

He stood in the doorway and didn't say anything until Billy was fast asleep. Then he nodded his head for me to come out.

I followed him into the small kitchen. The overhead light flickered like it always did.

"Summer told me you didn't seem okay when you got back with Billy today."

He didn't waste time.

"You alright?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine."

As long as my son was safe, I'd always be fine. That was the rule I lived by now.

"Are you sure?" he asked again. "You know you can talk to me, Kiara. If something's wrong-"

I knew what he was trying to say.

I shook my head. "It's not Erica. I mean, yeah, she's still awful. But it's not her."

"She's always been a nightmare. You don't have to keep working there, you know that, right?"

I cut him off before he went further.

"I need the money. I have a kid to raise, Chavez."

He sighed and didn't argue as usual. He never did when I said that.

But he was still watching me so he saw the crack in my voice.

"So what happened?"

I didn't answer. Not at first.

But he waited.

Then finally I said it. "I ran into Chase today."

The silence that followed that name was heavy.

Chavez's whole face changed.

"What?!"

I nodded. My fingers were twitching now.

He stepped forward. "What do you mean you ran into him? Did he try anything? Did he hurt you? Did he-"

"No. He didn't. He hates me too much to even touch me. He didn't do anything. But... he saw Billy."

Chavez stilled while I went on.

"I don't think he suspects anything. I really don't. But if he ever finds out... if he ever knows the truth... I don't know what he'll do. I don't know if he'll try to take him away. And I can't... I can't let that happen. I can't lose him, Chavez. I'll die if I do."

I said it. Out loud.

And it hurt. More than I thought it would.

Chavez didn't answer right away.

Then finally, he responded. "He didn't know you were pregnant. He never even suspected. I don't think he ever will. You're fine, Kiara. He won't take Billy. He won't even come close to guessing."

I wanted to believe him.

I did.

But I couldn't stop worrying.

Billy was everything.

My beginning. My end. My whole damn life.

If I lost him, nothing would be left.

Chavez tried again. "You're not going to lose him. You won't."

I nodded slowly. "Anyway, I don't think I'll see Chase again."

And I meant it. Or maybe I was just praying out loud.

I didn't care if Erica lost her biggest client.

I just wanted peace. I just wanted my son.

I already lost everything once.

I don't think I would survive it a second time.